Fix You ~Completed~

Act Seventy-One

(Second half of today's accidental double update!)

~*~

"You're gonna be the death of me." I rolled over on the bed so that I was facing Eddie while he fiddled with an old nightlight he had propped up on his desk. The light flickered a few times before finally sparking, making Eddie grin proudly. My face got warm; it was sweet how he'd started using nightlights for me. He knew I hated the oblivion of a pitch-black room. "I'm serious. You are just... you're so much."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Eddie chuckled, coming over to the bed. I was already snuggled up underneath the covers in the bed he probably had slept in every night during his childhood, waiting patiently for him to come join me. It was a cold night, despite the day being unbearably hot. Some cuddling would probably be needed for warmth.

Just for warmth. Nothing else. Not like I had an addiction to him cradling me to his chest or anything.

"It's great," I promised, watching him slide in next to me. He was dressed in some basketball shorts and a tank top despite the weather. "Aren't you freezing?"

"Yes, so get over here," he murmured, pulling me into his embrace. I tangled my arms lovingly around his torso and locked him in place. "We're gonna go hiking tomorrow. It's a tradition that Gale and I do with our dads every summer. Are you coming with us?"

Hiking? In ninety degree weather?

Oh god. That was gonna be fun.

"If you want me to," I responded carefully, flashing him a smile. I didn't wanna go spend the day trekking through the woods or up a hill in such intense temperatures, but I really didn't wanna stay here without Eddie or Gale. Hiking was enjoyable; I'd been with the guys a few times during the spring. They drove us out to a national park not too far from where we lived and we went on the trails. It was soothing and I enjoyed the strain. For once, the soreness in my body felt progressive.

But that was different. That was springtime, when the earth was just beginning to heat up. We all wore long sleeved shirts and pants, not shorts or tank tops. I could hide without question.

"Of course I want you to," Eddie hummed adoringly.

I felt bad saying this, but I couldn't help it. My nerves were getting the best of me, just as they always did. "Your dad kind of scares me," I admitted quietly, lowering my gaze. It might be that he simply reminded me too much of my own dad; detached, apathetic, quiet. Dad was never the most loving. I wondered if Eddie's was the same way.

"How?" Ed started to laugh, cupping my face so that we were eye to eye. I squirmed in his grip uneasily.

"I just... I don't think he likes me." It even made me cringe to hear that come out of my mouth. It wasn't the truth, probably, and Eddie and I both knew it, but I couldn't help feeling like Augustus Han wasn't a huge fan of the new guy in his son's life. "Sorry. I'm being paranoid. I-I'm just really scared of your parents not approving."

"My parents love you, Clemmy," Eddie insisted gently. Soon, his lips were touching mine and I tried to believe him. It felt like Coraline was already warmed up to me somehow, but Augustus... "Sweetie, this is just very new to my dad. I think he still might think I'm just experimenting, as college kids do according to him."

"'Experimenting?'" I echoed cluelessly.

The look on his face had me laughing. "Like, in college, apparently a lot of students test out what it's like to be with the same gender. Or opposite gender if you already knew you were gay. It's mostly for fun, nothing serious."

For fun? "Why does he think you're just having fun with me? Can't he tell I am probably one of the least fun people in the world?" I giggled, unable to help myself. It was such an insane theory, I couldn't see how Augustus would buy into that.

My boyfriend smirked, leaning down to kiss me again. "I think you're loads of fun," he argued. "And you're so adorable."

"Eddie," I sighed between my laughs, trying to pull myself free of his embrace. Eddie twisted me around until I was on top of him then took both of my hands in his. "Dude, why are you like this?"

"Eh, I was just born this way."

"Alright, Lady Gaga."

Finally, he released me so that I could readjust myself beside him, but he kept hold of my hand. I laid my free palm flat against his chest, counting each breath he took. "Back on the subject, though," Eddie whispered, "my dad likes you. I honestly think he does, baby. Don't worry so much about how they feel though. They'll love you no matter what, but even if they didn't, it wouldn't change anything between us."

"But you're so close to your parents. I don't wanna come in between you guys." I didn't wanna do to Ed what Kyla did to me. I didn't wanna rip him away from his family. It wasn't that it hurt me all that bad, but I knew it would do some damage to Ed.

My Eddie gave me a serious look. "Clem, you won't. They're all pretty chill people. Even if they hated you, they wouldn't let it ruin our relationship."

"Are you sure?"

"God, yes."

That irritated glint in his eyes had me retreating, my head down. "Did I make you mad? I'm sorry if I did," I quickly apologized, removing myself from his grasp. I scooted to the edge of the bed and stared at the popcorn ceiling hanging over me. There was a little crack right at the corner, possibly from a hook being removed with childish force.

"I'm not mad." Eddie took a deep breath, then muttered with a gentle voice, "Don't apologize. You have every right to be worried. I'd probably be losing my mind if I were meeting your parents. I would definitely be analyzing every microscopic thing to make sure I wasn't ruining our chances."

Even thinking about Eddie getting all anxiety ridden had me giggling a little. He was the calmest guy in the world; it would be a pretty interesting sight to see him losing it.

"Yay, I made you smile!" he cheered, reaching out to stroke my arm.

"You're a dork," I accused. After a second's thought, I crawled back over to him and propped my head up against his shoulder. "What can we do to prove to your dad that I'm not just some experiment for you?"

"Tomorrow on the hike, we just make it really obvious how much we love each other. I don't know what that entails exactly without making it weird, but we can work out the bugs later." He pushed some hair out of my face and grinned. "Come to think of it, he'd also probably get the hint when he gets the wedding invite..."

"Eddie!" I hid my face in my hands, blushing so hard that it physically hurt my face. He knew the right way to make me feel both terrible and beyond amazing all at once. "You."

"You." He nudged the back of my hand with the tip of his nose. "I love you."

"I-I love you too," I whispered, dropping my hands. Eddie's kisses were always so warm. I could have melted right into him and it would have been fine by me. I knew that this was what love was supposed to feel like. No fear, no doubt- just a sense of pure , unbreakable kinship and acceptance.

"We better get some sleep. The hike starts at eight o'clock, which mean we need to be up by at least six thirty in order to be ready to leave by seven thirty at the latest." Eddie reluctantly fought my lips off and brought me into a laying position next to him. "It'll be fun, promise."

I shut my eyes, slipping my hand against the warmth of the arm nearest me, feeling a soft pulse near his wrist. "Everything I do with you is fun," I assured him. I liked being honest with Eddie. It felt safer than the hiding and lying. Then again, I always felt safer with Eddie.